Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-01
GROWING Old Gracefully.
CICERO DE sEEECTUTE LIVING
TOO PAST CULTURE OF MIND
AND HEART SYMPATHY WITH
PROGRESS: A SWEET TEMPER.
from the New York Observer

PROGRESS: A SWEET TEMPER.
from the New York Observer
Cicero has written one OF the
most charming books "On Old
Age" 1t contains the utterance OF
his soul, the convictions of his ex'
perience, and the revelation OF his
hopes for the remainder Of life. lie
wrote it In his prime; but yet II
was written at change OF hie'
when a chapter that had been full
of joys and honors and sorrows
and dissppOintments was ended,
and a new experience was begin
ming. This new chapter he deter
mined to shape and plan. He tells
what old age has been, he shows
what it often is, and he also I'M
folds his own hope and ambition as
years advance. 1t is not always
excess, or idleness, or folly that
prevent old age from being grace
ful and happy. 1t is because 1t IS
not thus planned for, because it is
suffered to come on unawares.-
There is many a man who is cor
rect in all his habits and devoted
TO his business, whOisyet laying up
trouble for declining years-many a
woman who is careful and troubled
about many things, eager, active,
energetic in her sphere, who is yet
not living wisely with reference to
the future.
How many men there are, broken
down because they would not rest
while they lived, and would put of
the resting time until they we're
compelled to take it How many
women are prematurely old, or I'M
strung in nerves and unhappy in
heart, because they could not or
would practice moderation in thenot
duties and pleasures Of life. That
is a right and and proper use Of
powers which consecrates enter
prise and energy and thought and
strength to legitimate work, TO the
honorable tolls of business or pro-
fession, to the management of the
household and the training Of chill
dren and the discharge Of social
duties. We are to glOrity God in
these things, and to make them a
part of our religious lite; but we
are not to make them, however i'm
portant, the whole of our life; nor
<afe we, in them, so to absorb and
exhaust ourselves that the mind
shall lie fallow, and the heart re-
main dormant, and the soul be de-
prived of nutriment and culture
and exercise. Man is being de-
signed for higher uses than COM
mercial activities and domestic
economy and thrift.
If We would grow old gracefully
and be happy in old age, we must
spare a portion, even Of manhOOd's
busiest years, and Of womanhOOd's
close.packed hours for the recrea.
ton of reading, Of meditation and
of prayer. There was no buster
life than Chnst's, but He had his
hours of holy communion with
yisaven, of prayer on the mountain
top, and of private intercourse
with his disciples. And we can.
not do better than to initiate him
in every point Of his character. II
the culture of the mind is neglect
ed, if no tastes except for toll and
business are developed, If religion
has only the fag-ends OF life IN its
active and vigorous years, age will
bring stsgnation and WEAKNESS, a
lack of interest in those things
which keep mind and heart young,
dissatisfaction and disgust with
lite and a kind of hopeless waiting
for a good time that will never
come.
But If in the noon aud warmth
OF life, the soul be opened system
atically and religiously 10 the
study of the works aud ways Of
God, to the knowledge and applica-
tons of science, to the sweet and
refining influence Of domestic and
social Joys in intervals taken from
more engrossing pursuits, the
leisure Of advancing years will
bring with it a keen appetite for
pure and enlivening studies and
Occupatlors. The old man will
not wander about house and
grounds aimless and unhappy, but
with observation wide awake and
profitable reflection and useful
plans, he will find occupation for
brain and hands; the old woman
will have a plenty Of subjects to
6ll her mind, purposes Of love and
kindness TO pursue, and the COM
fort of living happily and usefully
while life lasts. Those who would
ENJOY the long lite which God kind
Is grants, must not in their youth
and prime shut themselves up to
one narrow circle OF labOrs and
duties. The river should broaden
aud deepen as it nears the sea.
Scope should be given TO all gener.
GUS feelings, We should desire to
know all thai is worth knowing,
aud thought, and, above all, a
practical piety like Christ's, quick.
EN-, and enlarge, and ennoble all of
orr DOWers